Gift orchid in a tall cylinder vase!

14 years ago

OK, to make a long story short....Last fall I had over 60 orchids....as of now, I have maybe 20! Yes, Jack Frost played a number on my greenhouse.

Anyway, I thought, you know this might be a more manageable number to take care of. Then my DD gave me a orchid from Sam's club in a two foot tall cylinder for Mothers Day. Well, I have learned from all of you that roots need to BREATH...

So I promtly took it out. Now when she comes tomorrow, she might be a little discusted with me for removing it from the gift container....Did I do wrong or can I put it back in the tall vase?

BTW...I broke and bought another:( Is there a 12 step program for this wonderful habit?

Evelyn

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Comments (12)

quinnfyre
14 years ago
Sure!

Step 1: Look up all the info you can on your new orchid.
Step 2: Drool over all the others you see along the way.
Step 3: Find ones you've never even heard of that look really really interesting.
Step 4: Start seeing what spare funds you have in your checking/credit account.
Step 5: Justify placing an order for several or more orchids to 'save on shipping'
Step 6: Start rearranging things in your house to clear up space in front of the windows.
Step 7: Realize that you need to buy all sorts of potting/mounting materials to properly care for your collection.
Step 8: Begin looking for orchids that no one except for orchid dorks have ever heard of or seen, often needing to be ordered from other countries.
Step 9: Start ordering flasks so you can grow rare/expensive types that are hard to get otherwise.
Step 10: Look into building a greenhouse and/or automated lighting/watering systems.
Step 11: Try breeding your own hybrids and/or species.
Step 12: Move someplace that can accommodate your wonderful collection. All of it, with room to add more : )

Just kidding. To actually answer your question, it is probably better to be able to keep the orchid alive longer, so that when your daughter comes to visit you years from now, she can happily say she gave that to you such and such years ago. And you can use the vase for some lovely cut flowers. In fact, you can say that she gave you two gifts in one. It might be able to go back into the vase temporarily if that wouldn't damage its roots. But I think you did the right thing in taking it out. I'm assuming it is a phalaenopsis?
ebbykay
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you for the laugh! That's cute.

And also for the reassurance for the removing of the orchid. I have seen a tall vase like this with that oriental cane growing in water.

Thanks again,

Evelyn
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richardol
14 years ago
Depending on how long a visit we are talking about. The orchid can be put back in a decorative container and stay there for awhile if it is taken out for watering and allowed to drain before being put back in the cover pot. Many people, including myself, do this for in-home display of greenhouse plants.

If you re-potted into a proper pot then no, don't re-pot again.
eyedee
14 years ago
I received a phal in the exact same type of vase you have mentioned also from Sam's club. I believe mine is a Baldan's Kaliedoscope (my spelling is aweful). My solution was to repot the specimen in a large/course media so that the roots are definitely getting air circulation. I keep the clear pot in this vase where it has been for over one year...happy and flowering :)
aachenelf z5 Mpls
14 years ago
Why not just tell her keeping the orchid in that vase is a sure-fire way of killing it promptly? - The experts told you so (experts being us). If she doesn't believe you, just point her to this forum.

Kevin
eyedee
14 years ago
There is more than one way to satisfy a culture...but correct, Kevin, you are the expert. And a very gracious one at that.
aachenelf z5 Mpls
14 years ago
Oh heavens no!! I'm no expert, but when it comes to growing plants of any kind, I see no reason to not tell people the truth if you happen to know something they don't. Of course I believe in doing it tactfully, but the end goal is the same - to help keep the plant alive. When I've done it with friends or family, they always seem appreciative.

Kevin
ebbykay
Original Author
14 years ago
I told her that you all agreed that I did the right thing.

Thanks,

Evelyn
ebbykay
Original Author
14 years ago
Yesterday, I cleaned it up, poured about a pint of sand in the bottom and filled it to the rim with sea shells....lovely!
Tammy3997
11 years ago
So I got one of these orchids and was looking for info on how to keep it alive. I know nothing about orchids at all. What should I do with it? I see no roots only a cut stem. Does that mean that it will die when the blooms are spent?
arthurm
11 years ago
A cut stem doesn't sound like a good starting point in growing orchids. Do the flowers look something like the ones pictured in this recent thread in the link?
Also google Canadian Orchid Congress for local orchid info..

Here is a link that might be useful: Previous garden web discussion
bob8_gw
11 years ago
I've taken some of those tall pots and drilled a whole in the bottom using a drill that they use for tile. It looks like a spade in shape. Just go slow and easy and you won't break the pot. On plastic pots I melt a hole with an old sodiering iron. If you do that have a fan blowing the fumes away from you. Just some tricks, I've learned over the years, and thought that I'd share.

Gift orchid in a tall cylinder vase!

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Gift orchid in a tall cylinder vase!

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